anor, of oie af ‘adulterated ole and that styceral: acetate 
‘took the first place under the admixtures. Generally Se ag Ne A 
were more modest than with the firm referred TOn 22 mee beg 
However, we cannot refrain from mien OMiaS another saraptes which was so 
speak the acme of the art of “composing”. ‘It had the following constants: dis0 0. 
ap — 20°43" , soluble in 2 vol. and more of alcohol 70 per cent., acid v. 0.7, « te 
whereas the sample under examination was ae well coluble ‘Funhennaee, the’ 
acetylation v. attracts attention, as it would correspond to a content of 77.9 per cent. 0 
total menthol, i. e: a quantity found only in the normal, unseparated Japanese pepper 
mint oil. The difference between the saponification v. and the acid v. Il confirmed th 
the oil was adulterated. As contrasted with pure peppermint oil (see tables on page 39), 
the difference is here 53, which shows that the oil contained the ester of a- non-volatile 
acid. The acid proved to be identical with phthalic acid and was recognized for instance 
by its m.p. of 195 to 196° It was present, without doubt, in the form of. phthalic 
ester, the quantity of which could be calculated at about 10 per cent. ‘from Sis ‘dif- 
ference mentioned. 
But this was not the only adulteration, for a closer investigation ‘revealed the i. 
presence of anethole and of characteristic sandalwood oil components. It is even 
possible that the product did not contain any peppermint oil at all, but was a mixture 
of other substances, to which some menthol had been added. Under the circumstances 
the acetylation v. does not give any clue as to Oe content of total menthol, OE this’ 
is a minor detail with such stuff. — | A, 5. GL Bee aa 
The value of mint as fodder. Like other industries, that of the essential oils tri 
to make the best use of its by-products. In isolated cases, as for instance with certain — 
seeds, the distillation residues are used as fodder for cattle, but most of such materi: 3 
have but little practical value. Distilled peppermint. herb is said to be an appropria 
fodder for animals and in this respect an article by O. Dafert’), entitled “The Value — 
of Mint as Fodder” is of interest for us. He examined the chemical components of the 
herb of the ordinary and of the Japanese peppermints, before and after the distillatio 
For the residues of distillation of the former, he found the following composition: water 
7.55 per cent., crude proteine 18.81 per cent., fat 1.64 per cent. extractive matter free 
from nitrogen 49.85 per cent., crude fibre 8.69 per cent., dace 13.06 per cent. (sa 
1.4 per cent.) The residues of the Japanese mint contained a little less crude prot n 
and a little more crude fibre, but otherwise resembled those of the ordinary peppet 
The values ascertained almost equal those of dry leaves, so that these re: 
of distillation would have about the same value. The cane of such” me 
even at 40 cwts.. 7 
It might be of interest to ascertain whether such residues have any. effect 
